CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED.
(Gwen and Yvonne, divert your eyes when it comes to the culinary coda)
Compared with what has been inflicted on Wales and Ireland by the albeit waning hurricane Ophelia, we have got off lightly.
This morning we made our usual preparations for protection from strong winds, notably laying down chairs, pedestals,
and hanging baskets.
Towards midday a fleeting glimpse of a bright red version of yesterday’s solar discs was seen peering from behind the billowing smoke
that was dark slate-coloured clouds. By the time I had gathered up the camera the sun had disappeared. The temperature was so unseasonably warm as to give the impression that there was, indeed, a fire somewhere.
I suspect that the birds thought they must be having a sleepless night;
but the weeping birch still hung unmolested.
By early afternoon the sky had lightened and the sun played upon the garden.
These pansies still brightened
the pots outside the kitchen door.
Fuchsias are among the flowers still blooming beside the greenhouse.
Various pelargoniums,
including this sweetly scented one;
and begonias still defy the coming of the first frost.
Delicate striped petunias thrive in the Cryptomeria Bed;
and white dahlias in Elizabeth’s Bed.
Among the rejuvenated roses are Just Joey,
Aloha,
Lady Emma Hamilton,
Mamma Mia,
and, photographed later, when the wind was getting up and making this spray elusive to the lens, Pink Abundance.
The weeping birch was now waving about,
as was the Cordyline Australis.
I wondered how many of these leaves would be in place in the morning.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s divine liver and bacon, new potatoes, cabbage and mange touts, with which I drank Chateau Bonhomme minervois 2016.
A beautiful walk through the garden. Do you really expect a frost this early?
Not this year, certainly, but we do have many flowers continuing longer than usual. Thank you, GP
Beautiful photos
Thanks very much, Cinnamon Girl
You are welcome
Yes, Derrick. Not too much wind here in Surrey, but weird weather indeed. Morning so very warm. Afternoon the whole sky darkened – just as in your photographs, then a strange yellow sun surrounded in red – and possible to look straight at it. Then a chilly evening. Thanks for your photographic record.
Very many thanks, Roland.
Those skies were ominous! Great photos.
Many thanks, Leslie
Your photos are wonderful–from the ominous clouds to the lovely flowers. We’ve had strange weather here, too.
Many thanks, Merril
Lovely photos Derrick. We’ve had storms here too.
Many thanks, Miriam
I happy to see Ophelia stayed away from your beautiful garden, Derrick. Our weather has changed dramatically. Yesterday is was humid and in the mid-eighties, and today it’s windy and 66 degrees.
Thanks, Jill. We were in the 70s
I’m glad you got off with little damage. Surely this is the first time there has ever been a hurricane in the UK. Climate change?
Thanks a lot, Suzanne. Who knows?
Absolutely beautiful flowers. My favorites, the pansies and fuschias.
Very many thanks, Luanne
Gorgeous garden, very powerful looking sky!
Many thanks, Lynn. No damage was done
So glad
The colour after that Saturnine darkness is most uplifting. What strange weather! I have my heating on today – tomorrow we expect 27 (C) crazy stuff! Just like global politics really 🙂 I wonder if the one mirrors the other – someone ought to do a study 😀
Many thanks, Pauline. Weird it was. We are told it was dust from the Sahara and fires from Spain and Portugal that caused the phenomenon. All clear today.
Amazing! I’m glad to hear it has cleared. I know sometimes here we get moody black and red skies when Melbourne has huge fires……
Forewarned is Forearmed – thanks! What weird, weird weather, and such a strange sky. Over here, all we want is some decent rain. The soaking type, not the torrential type that floods everything because the soil is baked so dry it can’t absorb it.
I hope you get your rain, Gwen; and pleased that you avoided the unmentionable. Thanks a lot 🙂
Glad to see you dodged that bullet. 😀
🙂 Thanks a lot, Widders
I’m surprised that Ophelia didn’t drown in one of those streams near your place.
Maybe that’s why she left us virtually unscathed. Thanks a lot, Bruce.
Even the gray skies look interesting with the birds flying across!
Many thanks, Byung. I’m pleased you picked out that one.
That is a rather romantically named storm. No wonder the weeping birch held back its tears in anticipation of Ophelia’s. The blossoms of your garden appear non too bothered however.
Thanks a lot, Uma. No damage was done 🙂
I was hoping your storm Ophelia wouldn’t ruin anything, Derrick.
I like that the begonias which are usually wilted (around here from 45-50 degree nights) are vibrant in your area. I love peach and cream roses, which you featured beautifully.
Liver, onions and bacon with potatoes and a salad is something I really like to eat! I know this was delicious cooked by your culinary queen! 👑
Very many thanks, Robin. Delicious it was. 🙂
Heading back in time, so glad I have been enjoying this visit, the brown (nearly sepia toned) sky with weeping willow silhouette was lovely, Derrick.
Very many thanks, Robin. I almost called it sepia 🙂
I could see the rosy tint to the color so I really liked your description best. It was an eerie time, so unique!
Thanks again
I hope this didn’t post twice! The place I am sitting in has wifi and seems to be repeating my sending messages. . . If you feel like it, just delete.
I’m waiting to have my car oil changed. Just ran out of my workplace a few minutes ago! 😊
Just once 🙂
The weather patterns everywhere seem to be off lately. The sky over there looks pretty ominous. Smoke from fires here has mostly been washed away with the autumn rains. We had a beautiful sunny day in the 70s here today, marred briefly by someone brush pile burning in the area.
Glad you are OK. No damage. Thanks very much, Lavinia
Hopefully the storm has passed you by Derrick.
Winds less than expected. No damage. Many thanks, Ivor
Glad it didn’t get you guys. I thought it was odd to hear a hurricane was headed your way.
How fortunate that Ophelia skipped over your homestead and perhaps took Hamlet’s advice and got herself to a nunnery!
Ha! I love your new banner with a pensive Jackie. 😀
Lovely shots – as always. One does wonder how long south east England is going to bang on about the storm of ’87 – though it was pretty scary, I remember it well. The sun was very strange in the frozen north yesterday – I decided my photo skills couldn’t do it justice, but it did look suitably apocalyptic. We have all got off relatively lightly – apart from those poor souls in Ireland.
Many thanks, Mike. I slept through the storm of ’87 (In Streatham) and ran nine miles to work without any idea of what had happened!!
I thought the roof was going to come off. Was due to sign a new office lease that morning and couldn’t get out of the village for fallen trees and floods.
That’s one ominous-looking sky! SO weird to think of you having a hurricane but I’m glad you escaped with little damage!
Thanks a lot, Kerry. We were luckier than some.
I was woken early in the morning back in ’87 and travelled down from Peterborough to Romney Marsh to rescue chickens from a collapsed shed. The massive commercial greenhouse next to the poultry house was untouched. It was a strange day.
It was. Thanks a lot, Quercus
My husband when asked what he thought was going on with the sky said ‘simple … a question of Earth Wind and Fire … Ophelia gathers sand from the Sahara and fans the flames in Portugal whilst taking hot ash with her – result …. people on FaceBook and in the gutter press announce it is aliens or Armageddon.’ Very relieved that you got off lightly … it would be tragic to see damage in your garden.
Very many thanks, Osyth. Wise husband
☺
What a season for fire and water! It would be wise for we humans to heed the warning. In the meantime, too many of our politicians fiddle…
Nice comment Laurie. Many thanks
I hope she wasn’t as ominous as she looked!
She wasn’t. Thanks a lot, Val
I like your photos of the black, smoky clouds and then the peaceful ones of the lovely flowers in your garden.
Yes – I loved that contrast as well.
Absolutely wonderful photos; especially the roses.
Many thanks, Harbans
My pleasure. :))
What a magnificent variety! Does the Minister for Horticulture have a count of the number of varieties? It would be interesting to know.
I’ll consult – but I imagine it would be a bit of a task. Thanks, Paol
Absolutely amazing shots of the clouds! I’ve never seen anything like that–especially with the birds flying by.
Thanks very much, Rekha. Nor me
Lovely photography of both the garden’s flowers and the clouds in the sky
Thanks very much, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
love cloud pics! plus the flowers – as ever!
Thanks very much, Rob